The little two letter word right in the middle of ... LIFE

Bobby G. Richardson

It has been said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. And, I believe there is a lot of truth in that statement. However, it has also been said that people don’t plan to fail ... they fail to plan. And, I am convinced that the little word **IF** has a whole lot to do with BOTH of these statements. It is my hope that in today’s study we can take a little closer look at this word, and see why **IF** is used so much in connection with promises, conditions and warnings ... as well as why **IF** is pulled out so often from the devil’s tool box of "excuses" for passing the buck and finding fault. You will be amazed **IF** you start noticing how often you use the word, yourself, as well as how often you will hear the word being used by others. At any rate, let’s take a little trip through the Bible, and look at a few of the promises, conditions and warnings associated with the seemingly insignificant little word ... **IF** There are about 75 **IF’s** (conditions) found in the Laws that the LORD gave to Moses for the purpose of Civil Government ... or things having to do with their dealings with one another (found in Exodus Chapters 21, 22 and 23). Whereas, Leviticus contains more **IF’s** than any other Book in the Bible (about 150 of ‘em) ... having to do with things between them AND the LORD (twice as many as Exodus, and the things having to do with their dealings with one another). **IF** is found almost 1600 times in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, **IF** ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:

Numbers 30:2 **IF** a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Deuteronomy 30:1-20 And it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath driven thee, And shalt return unto the LORD thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul; That then the LORD thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the LORD thy God hath scattered thee. **IF** any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven, from thence will the LORD thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee: And the LORD thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. And the LORD thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee. And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: **IF** thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and **IF** thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil; In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. But **IF** thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Joshua 24:20 **IF** ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

1 Samuel 12:13-15 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. **IF** ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: But **IF** ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers.

1 Kings 3:14 And **IF** thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days. (This is what the LORD told Solomon)

2 Chronicles 7:14 **IF** my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 30:7-9 And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see. Now be ye not stiffnecked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves unto the LORD, and enter into his sanctuary, which he hath sanctified for ever: and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of his wrath may turn away from you. For **IF** ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, **IF** ye return unto him.

Nehemiah 1:7-9 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, **IF** ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But **IF** ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.

Psalm 66:18 **IF** I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Psalm 89:30-32 **IF** his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; **IF** they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

Psalm 132:12 **IF** thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.

Proverbs 2:1-6 My son, **IF** thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, **IF** thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; **IF** thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

Ecclesiates 4:9-12 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For **IF** they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, **IF** two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And **IF** one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

Isaiah 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. **IF** ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But **IF** ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

Jeremiah 4:1-3 **IF** thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and **IF** thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove. And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.

Ezekiel 3:17-19 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet **IF** thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

Matthew 6:14-15 For **IF** ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But **IF** ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

John 8:19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: **IF** ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also.

John 14:14-15 **IF** ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. **IF** ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:13-14 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, **IF** ye do whatsoever I command you.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, **IF** we faint not.

THE LITTLE WORD **IF** CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HELL.

 

 

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